Racing through Appalachia at Nantahala speed
Nestled low in the craggy Appalachian Mountain dales of North Carolina, the Nantahala River offers summer camping, biking, fly fishing and incredible white water rafting.
Accessible by the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and U.S. Highway 19, this people-packed and family-friendly area is 13 miles east of Bryson City. The rafting season starts in March and tumbles through mid-November.
One of Nantahala's most charming features is the bonding among its visitors. The river's banks are outstretched and clear, so it is common to see fly fishermen or campers on the shoals.
The more the merrier
People on this river talk to each other, and it's usually about the temperature of the water. Nantahala Outdoor Center reports that the river water is a chilling 52 degrees year-round, an even bigger incentive not to get thrown overboard.
That doesn't stop the white water rafters from coming -- they arrive in swarms, hungry for summer adventure. Nantahala Outdoor Center is the biggest and most far-reaching of several outdoor outfitters in the area. The N.O.C. manages group rafting trips at five rivers throughout the southeast, but maintains its central location at this North Carolina outpost.
Water levels are dam-controlled, ensuring a consistent eight-mile run for either half or full-day trips. These guided tours can last up to six hours, taking you through a maze of fast-moving, rocky white water. More independent and experienced individuals rent inflatable open-boat kayaks, called "duckies."
Running from Beechertown to Fontana Lake, the scenic stretch of Nantahala River Gorge is all white water. Situated on steady ground, rustic cottages, grassy campgrounds and mountain restaurants become a blur as rafters whiz past. Fly fishing instruction is at its finest here, with back-country trips and high-quality lessons.
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